Commercial Vehicle Accident Attorney New York
Award-Winning Personal Injury Legal Representation
Commercial Vehicle Accident Attorney New York
Because commercial vehicles are larger and more dangerous than personal vehicles, large truck crashes tend to be accompanied by serious and fatal injuries. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, you’re entitled to recover compensation from the trucking company or their insurer.
The New York truck accident attorneys at the Giordano Law Offices Personal Injury & Employment Lawyers will help you obtain a full financial recovery for your medical bills, lost wages, vehicle damage, pain and suffering, and more. We will assign a New York truck accident lawyer to your case on a contingency basis. That means our attorneys only get paid from the proceeds of the case at the end of your truck accident lawsuit. Call our New York law office for a free, no-obligation consultation.
Under New York law, a commercial vehicle is any vehicle that meets one of these criteria:
- A vehicle that has a gross weight of more than 10,000 lbs (this can include a trailer)
- Vans designed to transport eight or more passengers for compensation
- Vans or buses designed to transport 15 or more passengers, regardless of whether it’s for compensation
- It is a placarded truck designed to transport hazardous materials
In other words, commercial vehicles include garbage trucks, large cargo vans, buses, etc. If you’re unsure whether your accident qualifies as a commercial vehicle accident, contact a personal injury lawyer in NYC.
Common Causes of New York Commercial Vehicle Accidents
The following are some of the most common reasons for accidents involving large trucks:
- Jackknifing – This is common in big rig accidents and involves the trailer portion of a large commercial truck moving in a different direction than the cab.
- Speeding – High speeds are particularly dangerous with commercial trucks because it already takes longer for them to come to a stop. Speeding can also lead to a much greater degree of damage, even if it was only a contributing cause of an accident.
- Improper or Unsecured Load – The movement of semi trucks and other commercial vehicles can be impacted by their contents shifting around. This can also cause debris to spill from the vehicle and strike other cars.
- Blind Spots – Because of the enormous length of some trucks, they have less visibility on the driver’s side, which means that commercial drivers may sideswipe other vehicles.
- Wide Turning – Large trucks require a wider turning radius. If the driver misjudges it, the truck can hit another driver.
- Driver Negligence – Oftentimes, a truck driver will be tired from driving for many hours or just careless, causing a tractor-trailer accident.
- Improper Maintenance – Commercial truck malfunctions are frequently responsible for serious injuries. Truck companies must keep maintenance logs to prove that they are properly caring for their vehicles.
Damages for Commercial Truck Accident Victims
There are three types of damages in truck accident cases:
- Economic Damages – This involves all monetary costs: medical expenses, lost income from missing work, damage to your vehicle, etc.
- Non-Economic Damages – These damages attempt to compensate truck accident victims for their intangible expenses. For instance, if you sustained a serious injury in a collision with a truck, you could have physical pain, emotional trauma, and overall inconvenience. Truck accident lawyers often refer to these damages as pain and suffering.
- Punitive Damages – These are sometimes awarded to punish the liable parties for reckless behavior or intentional harm. For example, if the truck accident injury was due to aggressive driving, intoxication, or attempting to do intentional harm, the court may award punitive damages. In New York, there are no caps on punitive damages.
Why You Should Talk to Our New York Truck Accident Lawyers
Our attorneys work on New York commercial truck accidents on a contingency basis. If we accept your case, we can immediately begin to review relevant traffic laws and collect the evidence necessary to prove negligence. This includes reading police reports, reviewing your medical records, interviewing witnesses, and proving liability.
Once we have a full understanding of your case, we can proceed with your injury claim. This will begin the negotiations with the insurance company.
NYC Personal Injury Attorneys For Commercial Vehicle Accidents
The companies that insure commercial vehicles want you to settle without speaking to a New York truck accident lawyer. They know that statistically, it’s far less expensive for them if they can settle before you find representation. Don’t make the mistake of taking a settlement that’s only for a fraction of what they owe you. Call Giordano Law Offices Personal Injury & Employment Lawyers today for a free case evaluation. A motor vehicle accident lawyer in NYC is ready to take your call.
The Giordano Law Firm was founded by Attorney Jack Giordano. Mr. Jack Giordano is the managing partner and principal at the Giordano Law Firm.